Presidency calls out Atiku for silence 18 hours after Oyo school rescue
By Ishaya Ibrahim
The Presidency has criticised African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar over his silence 18 hours after the rescue of abducted pupils and teachers from Oriire, Oyo State.
In a statement posted on X Saturday, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Atiku had yet to acknowledge the victims’ release nearly 18 hours after they regained freedom.
Onanuga noted that Atiku repeatedly criticized the federal government over the abduction while the victims were in captivity.
“Almost 18 hours after the Oriire pupils and their teachers regained their freedom, Atiku Abubakar has not deemed it fit to rejoice with the Tinubu Federal Government, the security agencies and the traumatised victims,” Onanuga wrote.
He added that Atiku had “weaponised the kidnap as a campaign issue several times” since the abduction 57 days ago.
Onanuga described the ADC chieftain’s silence as “curious” given his frequent commentary on the matter. “Maybe the veteran presidential runner is waiting for some bad news to attack the Tinubu administration,” he said.
The presidential aide, however, commended Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi for reacting to the rescue. He noted that Obi called for thanksgiving over the victims’ freedom, though he did not directly commend President Tinubu.
